Maziv, the parent company of Vumatel, welcomes the decision by ICASA to approve the licence transfer application of Herotel. This follows the approval of Vumatel’s (Vuma) acquisition of Herotel by the Competition Tribunal in December last year.
The ICASA approval marks a definitive step forward in strengthening South Africa’s fibre ecosystem and accelerating the collective mission of building connected lives, communities, and societies.
As the pioneer of open access offering high-speed fibre-to-the-home in South Africa, Vuma has revolutionised digital access by reaching over two million homes. By combining Vuma’s national scale and metropolitan expertise with Herotel’s specialised rural and underserved communities-driven footprint, Maziv Group is uniquely positioned to bridge the digital divide.
The acquisition allows the group to expand into historically underserved regions with greater speed and efficiency. Maziv and Herotel view this acquisition as a win for the South African consumer and the broader economy.
“Vuma has long been a firm believer in Herotel’s vision, which is why we initially acquired a minority stake several years ago,” says Dietlof Mare, Group CEO of Maziv. “The acquisition of the remaining shares is a resounding vote of confidence in Herotel’s long-term value. By combining our capabilities, we can accelerate rollouts and deliver high-quality, affordable fibre to communities that have traditionally been left behind.”
Van Zyl Botha, CEO of Herotel, highlighted the impact on local communities.
“Our focus has always been on secondary towns and markets where digital access was inconsistent. Joining forces with Vuma gives us the infrastructure backbone to scale even faster. This transaction creates cross-network opportunities that provide more choices for our customers and ensures that reliable internet remains an enabler of education and economic growth in every corner of the country.”
The results of this strategy are already evident. Households on the Herotel network now consume more considerable amount of data per month which continues to grow, while the Hero Prepaid model continues to see rapid growth. This pay-as-you-go approach offers simplicity andfixed costs without bill shock, allowing families to access world-class connectivity without long- term contracts.
Today, Herotel stands as the third-largest fibre network operator in South Africa, trailing Vuma and Openserve. This achievement reflects a sustainable strategy that prioritises local presence and customer needs.
“As the group moves forward, the mission remains unchanged: keeping fibre affordable, staying local, and continuing to connect areas where reliable internet makes the greatest difference in daily life,” says Botha.
The approval of the acquisition is subject to conditions that safeguard competition, ensure transparency, and support public interest outcomes, and paves the way for the implementation of the merger between Vumatel and Herotel. These conditions ensure the acquisition strengthens the national ecosystem while promoting fair competition and inclusive connectivity for all South Africans.
